Southern HSC Trust chair reiterates apology to thousands of women affected by cervical smear test review
The Chair of the Southern Health & Social Care (HSC) Trust board has reiterated her apology to the 17,500 women who were affected by the smear test review, after it emerged that thousands of slides had been misread – sometimes with fatal consequences.
The review followed a Royal College of Pathologists (RCPATH) independent assessment of the Trust’s cervical screening service over 10 years, and concerns about the performance of some screening staff.
Speaking on behalf of herself and Trust chief executive, Steve Spoerry, Eileen Mullan told the latest board meeting: “I think it’s really important, on behalf of the board, that Steve and I reiterate our apology to all the women and their families that were impacted by the cervical screening review.
“We acknowledge the past performance issues in our laboratory, and fully accept the actions of the Trust at that time were not sufficiently robust, and that that was an unacceptable breach of our governance procedures.
“So, we apologise to everyone that has been impacted.”
Ms Mullan’s apology follows a previous one, issued at a board meeting in April 2024.
In January 2025, the then acting chief executive of the Trust, Colm McCafferty, also apologised to the thousands of women affected - collectively known as the Ladies with Letters.
He stated at the time: “I just want to reiterate the Trust apologies to the women and families impacted by what has been a hugely, hugely challenging period.
“And clearly the impact has been significant. For a small number of ladies, there is ongoing medical treatment.
“The Trust is wholly committed to ensuring that they get the best possible care available with regards to that.”